Please help me select a caliber/rifle!!!

Hello all, first post here. I'm young and just starting my collection, but I have loved shooting all my life. I thought some of you who have been at this longer than I have could help me make a decision on my next rifle. I want to get the best advice possible, so please bear with me on the details as this may get lengthy.

Basically, I'm looking for an inexpensive rifle that has great accuracy, durability, and range. I don't care too much about weight or looks. I want to use it for target shooting (1-2 times weekly) and hunting (maybe twice per year). I want the capability of taking large game (elk) at long distances (800 or more yards). Targets at my range go out to 800 yards and I want to be able to reliably hit a silhouette at that range 9 times out of 10 or better. I want to be able to take a buck at whatever range I see it at (I don't want to see a buck 1000 yards out and hike up one mountain and down another just to find that it's gone).

I have decided to go with a Remington 700, because funds are limited, and I want to be able to customize my rifle as I can afford to do so. From what I understand, remmys have the most available aftermarket parts and are easy to gunsmith. Also, the basic actions and everything are the same, so I want to go with a low end one for now (i.e. ADL) and when I can I want to restock, put a new trigger in, possibly rebarrel, etc. I will, however, be receptive to other suggestions such as Savage or others in my price range.

My dilemma lies mainly in two things
1) Caliber
2) Barrel contour
All the rifles I've looked at either don't have the heavy barrel I'm looking for or don't come in larger calibers for the range I want.

So I guess my question is, which is a better sacrifice between barrel contour and large calibers for range? I've been looking at the following 3 rifles:
1)700 ADL Varmint, which goes up to .308 and has the heavy contour barrel,
2) the 700 ADL wood tech which goes up to 7mm Rem. Mag, comes with Bushnell Banner 3-9x40 scope, but has normal barrel,
3) The regular 700 ADL which goes up to .300 Win. Mag with regular barrel contour. Comes with throwaway scope, but is the cheapest of all three.

All of these are under $500 (I.e. within my budget). They all have 26" barrels.

So between those three, given that I will be using for long range target shooting and hunting which do you all think I should go with? Is the .308 large enough for my needs, or should I move up to the 7mm rem. mag or .300 win mag? I've been thinking and researching for months, this is the first time I've asked for help. If you made it this far into my post and are willing to help, God Bless you.

Also, I plan to buy a reloading kit soon, so hopefully that will help with ammo cost if I choose the larger calibers.

Heavier is better for targets. the heavy barrels are less fincky to load for and more comfortable to shoot. the 308 was not made to be an 800 elk rifle . you are better off with a 300 win mag. that is why i suggest the 5-r or sendero. sporter weights generally do not do as well as heavy barrels for target shooting.

Hello all, first post here. I'm young and just starting my collection, but I have loved shooting all my life. I thought some of you who have been at this longer than I have could help me make a decision on my next rifle. I want to get the best advice possible, so please bear with me on the details as this may get lengthy.

Basically, I'm looking for an inexpensive rifle that has great accuracy, durability, and range. I don't care too much about weight or looks. I want to use it for target shooting (1-2 times weekly) and hunting (maybe twice per year). I want the capability of taking large game (elk) at long distances (800 or more yards). Targets at my range go out to 800 yards and I want to be able to reliably hit a silhouette at that range 9 times out of 10 or better. I want to be able to take a buck at whatever range I see it at (I don't want to see a buck 1000 yards out and hike up one mountain and down another just to find that it's gone).

I have decided to go with a Remington 700, because funds are limited, and I want to be able to customize my rifle as I can afford to do so. From what I understand, remmys have the most available aftermarket parts and are easy to gunsmith. Also, the basic actions and everything are the same, so I want to go with a low end one for now (i.e. ADL) and when I can I want to restock, put a new trigger in, possibly rebarrel, etc. I will, however, be receptive to other suggestions such as Savage or others in my price range.

My dilemma lies mainly in two things
1) Caliber
2) Barrel contour
All the rifles I've looked at either don't have the heavy barrel I'm looking for or don't come in larger calibers for the range I want.

So I guess my question is, which is a better sacrifice between barrel contour and large calibers for range? I've been looking at the following 3 rifles:
1)700 ADL Varmint, which goes up to .308 and has the heavy contour barrel, 2) the 700 ADL wood tech which goes up to 7mm Rem. Mag, comes with Bushnell Banner 3-9x40 scope, but has normal barrel,
3) The regular 700 ADL which goes up to .300 Win. Mag with regular barrel contour. Comes with throwaway scope, but is the cheapest of all three.

All of these are under $500 (I.e. within my budget). They all have 26" barrels.

So between those three, given that I will be using for long range target shooting and hunting which do you all think I should go with? Is the .308 large enough for my needs, or should I move up to the 7mm rem. mag or .300 win mag? I've been thinking and researching for months, this is the first time I've asked for help. If you made it this far into my post and are willing to help, God Bless you.

Also, I plan to buy a reloading kit soon, so hopefully that will help with ammo cost if I choose the larger calibers.

Thanks!

I'd go with option 2, in a 7mm RM.

__________________
"I'm just a peckerwood who lives in the hills with too many guns..." - Bob Lee Swagger

Hate to break it to you but cheap and long range don't cohabitate too well.

Well like I said, as I can afford it, I entirely intend to rebarrel, restock, etc. whichever gun I buy. Not all of us are blessed with thousands of dollars to spend on rifles. And that wasn't my question anyway. My question was directed at caliber and barrel contour among the rifles listed that are in my price range.

I chose the 700 because it is so easily upgradeable. As far as I know, The ADL varmint has the same action and barrel as the 700p in 308, with the main difference being in the stock and possibly the rifling? I'm not sure if the 700p's have 5r rifling.

Anyway, I'm leaning toward the ADL Varmint in .308. I think I will forgo 800+ yard capability for now, and focus on improving my close-intermediate range skills until I can afford a rifle more suited for long range. Ammunition cost is also a factor, since my local shop has match grade ammo for .308 for about $22/box vs. $32 for 7mm and $36 for .300 win mag. I don't have reloading equipment yet although it will be my first purchase after this rifle and scope, and after I have a few hundred rounds through it so I have brass.

Thank you all for your input and if anyone has any more suggestions, I still haven't decided for sure